Notre Dame football: 3 takeaways from 2023 spring game

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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – APRIL 22: Gi’Bran Payne #13 of Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes for a first down during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring Football Game at Notre Dame Stadium on April 22, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

2. Gi’Bran Payne may carve out a decent role in the offense

Notre Dame already has a really solid backfield with Logan Diggs and Auric Estime, but why not add another piece that could contribute when one of those guys can’t go. Well, Diggs has been dealing with an injury and that opened the door for former four-star running back Gi’Bran Payne to make a statement.

Payne did just that.

Earlier this spring, he said that he was 100 percent healthy and ready to make an impact and he also stated that he doesn’t like to go down on first contact. He showed that on Saturday.

Payne led all rushers and looked like a star. There was a reason he was the No. 1 pick in the spring game draft and he may even steal some carries from Diggs or Estime next season if he can remain healthy.

I don’t think there’s a single player who benefited more from this spring and a solid spring game showing than Payne.

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